Biometric belt connector

ABSTRACT

A belt connector is provided. The belt connector is configured to electrically connect a conductor of an electrode belt to a male portion of a snap connector electrode connected to a biometric device. The belt connector includes a frame, a fastener, and an engaging member. The frame includes a receiving hole having radial flexibility. The receiving hole is configured to receive and fasten the frame to a protrusion of the male portion of the snap connector electrode. The fastener is configured to fasten the frame to a first end of the electrode belt. The engaging member is adjacent to the receiving hole and engages the conductor of the electrode belt by the conductor passing through the receiving hole. When the male portion of the snap connector electrode penetrates the receiving hole, the conductor is forced into contact with a lateral surface of the male portion of the snap connector electrode.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/806,834, filed Mar. 18, 2013, which is a 371 nationalization ofApplication No. PCT/IS2011/050010 filed Jun. 24, 2011, which claims thebenefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/358,472 filedJun. 25, 2010, the entirety of which are incorporated herein byreference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure is within the field of medical devices, inparticular biometric devices for measuring biosignals, and relatesparticularly to electrodes for such devices and in particular electrodebelts and connectors for such belts.

BACKGROUND

Electrode belts are known, both for direct contact galvanic electrodesfor measure cardiography signals and inductive belts used in respiratoryinductive plethysmography. Prior art belts have various types ofconnectors, for transmitting the received signal to the respectivedevice. There remains a need for improved belt connectors that arereliable and easy to use and maintain.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a belt connector for electrically connecting anelectrode belt to a biometric device to be carried on a human or animalbody. The belt connector is preferably made from one single piece whichcan be economically manufactured in order to function as a single-useconsumable, to be used with a matching biometric device. The beltconnector comprises a molded plastic frame having a front side and arear side, the frame having a receiving hole, having radial flexibilityto function as a female snap button fastener for receiving and fasteningon the front side of the frame a male snap protrusion. The beltconnector further comprises fastening means for fastening to the frame abelt end of the electrode belt, and a member adjacent to the snapfastener receiving hole to engage an electrode wire end electricallyconnected to the belt such that the wire end is in electrical contactwith the hole, either by extending into the hole or coming in electricalcontact e.g. through a bridging conductor, with a conducting male snapfastener inserted in the receiving hole.

The belt connector and belt should be configured such that a personwearing the belt under operation is insulated from current runningthrough the belt, in order to meet existing standards for medicaldevices. The belt connector of the present disclosure is configuredaccordingly, and in a preferred embodiment, the belt connector comprisesa shield member which is arranged on the rear side of the frame toelectrically shield the wire end from the rear side exterior of the beltconnector.

The belt connector preferably comprises a cover enclosing the connectorand wire end. The cover may suitably include a pre-perforated holeoverlapping the hole of the frame, or in other embodiments is made fromsuch material that can readily be perforated by pressing the connectoronto a male fastener which fits the receiving hole of the frame.

The belt end is fixedly engaged with the connector and the electrodewire connected to the connector such that the electrode wire is inelectrical contact with the female snap fastener hole and thereby comesin electrical contact with a conducting male snap fastener inserted inthe hole.

Preferably the belt end is engaged with the connector in a fashionallowing adjustment of the length of the belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D illustrate a belt connector according to afirst embodiment.

FIG. 1A shows a prospective top view according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 1B shows a prospective bottom view according to the firstembodiment.

FIG. 1C shows a top plan view according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 1D shows a bottom plan view according to the first embodiment.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate a belt connector and connected beltaccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows a prospective top view according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 2B shows a prospective bottom view according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 2C shows a prospective top view according to the second embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed belt connector is suitable for various types of electrodebelts, such as for cardiographic measurements, both in clinical settingsor for training purposes, but also for belts such as RIP (respiratoryinductive plethysmography) belts.

As mentioned above, the belt connector is intended for electricallyconnecting an electrode belt to a biometric device, the term biometricdevice in this context includes any devices for receiving electricalbiosignals as well as extension cables, intermediate devices, connectingboxes, etc. or other means for receiving and transmitting thebiosignals.

The belt connector is preferably made from any of various suitablenon-conducting plastic materials, such as but not limited to ABS(acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PC/ABS, polyethylene, e.g. lowdensity polyethylene (LDPE) or high density polyethylene (HDPE), orderivatives such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) orpolyfluoroethylene (PTFE), or more preferably polypropylene, polyvinylchloride, or polyamide (nylon). In other embodiments the connector ismade from paper based material or other material from natural fibers.

The electrode belt is generally a flexible belt such as commonly used inrespiratory inductance plethysmography (RIP) devices today. Suchelectrode belt is preferably a flexible textile belt where an electrodewire is interwoven in the belt or can be laminated between two layers,typically in a zig-zag fashion to allow longitudinal elasticity.

The molded frame of the connector has a front side and a rear side,which are defined as follows: the front side of the frame faces thebiometric device which is fastened onto the connector for operation andthe rear side faces away from the device. In the presently preferredembodiment the rear side of the connector faces the body of the patientwhen mounted, i.e. the belt connector comes between the patient and thebiometric device. However, the biometric device can also be configuredsuch that the device faces the patient and the belt connectors lie ontop of the device, i.e. connect to the device on the face of the devicefacing away from the patient, thus in such embodiment the front side ofthe connectors face the patient and the rear side face away from thepatient.

The frame has a receiving hole with radial flexibility to function as afemale snap button fastener for receiving and fastening on the frontside of the frame a male snap protrusion. A mating biometric device willthus have a corresponding mating male snap fastener which can befastened securely onto the belt connector. The hole can preferably beshaped circular or semi-circular but may in other embodiments have anyother suitable shape, such as a general elongated shape shaped by twoparallel members, suitably including guiding members to ensure properpositioning of the mating male snap member, a square opening, or thelike.

The radial flexibility of the hole can in one embodiment be achieved byone or more slot extending from the hole. The embodiment shown if FIGS.1 and 2 shows two slots extending across from each other in the beltdirection. The one or more slot are preferably formed by at least oneelongated member having flexibility transverse to its longitudinal axis(e.g. by being sufficiently thin), thus imparting flexibility to thewidth of the hole. Preferably the hole is between two elongated memberswhere one or both have sufficient and suitable flexibility to provide asnap fastener hole with suitable fastening strength.

As mentioned, the belt connector comprises a member adjacent to the snapfastener receiving hole to engage an electrode wire coming from the beltend. This wire must come in electrical contact with the receiving hole,either by extending into the hole or coming in electrical contact withthe hole e.g. through a bridging conductor. In one embodiment, the wireend is crimped onto the member such the crimping tubing fixes the wireand conducts and connects electrically the wire to the receiving hole,such that thus the wire and the belt is in electrical contact with aconducting male snap fastener inserted in the receiving hole.

The slot mentioned above can also function to provide an additionalopening for a mating male projection on the biometric device. By thisarrangement it is assured that the device cannot be incorrectlyfastened, and the device will not fit any generic non-proprietary beltshaving connectors with female fasteners but without the correctly shapedand placed extended hole.

The connector frame has in another embodiment a separate further hole,not joined to the main fastener and electrical connection hole, wherethe further hole can mate with a corresponding male projection on thebiometric device. Alternatively, the biometric device can have a femalehole for mating with a corresponding male projection on the beltconnector.

The connector frame further comprises fastening means for fastening tothe frame a belt end of an electrode belt. The fastening means can inone embodiment comprise a slot with a row of teeth, pins or hooks,transverse to the belt direction, to engage a belt end. The slotpreferably allows to insert through it a loop of the belt such that thebelt length is adjusted and fixed, but preferably so that a user canlater re-adjust the length.

In another embodiment, the fastening means comprise a ridge member,which can be a flat or sharp elongated ridge or ridge or row comprisingpins or hooks, which ridge lies transverse to the belt direction and towhich a belt end can be fastened onto with heat melting or gluing.Alternatively, the ridge member can have pins hooks that grab onto thebelt fabric without need of heating.

Preferably, the frame has also an adjustment slot for user adjustment ofthe belt, which can configured with either of the two describedfastening means, the adjustment slot having a row of teeth, pins orhooks transverse to the belt direction, through which adjustment slot aloop of the belt can be inserted, which hooks onto the teeth/pins whenpulled on, such that the length of the belt can be readily adjusted butalso secured in the desired adjusted length.

The connector will preferably include a cover substantially oressentially fully enclosing the frame, which cover either includes apre-made hole overlapping the receiving hole of the frame, or can bereadily perforated by pressing the connector onto a male fastener whichfits the receiving hole of the frame. A suitable cover can be arrangedby a suitably sized paper, plastic or fabric sticker (foldable sheetwith glue on one side) which sticker is folded over the frame after thebelt end has been fastened and the wire end electrically connected tothe receiving hole, or the cover can be from but not limited to a paperenvelope, a plastic envelope and a textile envelope, which envelope issuitably fastened by gluing, sewing or the like.

In the embodiments where the biometric device has a further maleprojecting member which fits within the slot of the frame or within aseparate mating hole, the cover is suitably arranged with correspondingopenings for such hole or slot for receiving such mating male member,and the cover may also have a suitable hole allowing the protrusion of amale protruding member being a part of the frame which fits in a matingreceiving hole or slot on the mating biometric device.

In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises a shield member whichis arranged on the rear side of the frame to electrically shield thewire from the rear side exterior of the belt connector. The shieldmember is in one embodiment a sheet member extending from the frame,which sheet member is configured to be folded over onto the rear side ofthe frame to cover the hole and engaged wire. Such shield member moldedin one piece with the frame with enough 30 strength but suitablyflexible to allow folding at least once without braking allows the useof a cover enclosing the frame, which cover need not be electricallyinsulating, as the shield insulates the only part of the connector whichcould conduct electrical current of the connector, except through thehole.

In another aspect, the present disclosure sets forth a process formaking an electrode belt with biometric belt connectors, comprising:

-   -   placing an end of a flexible electrode belt with an incorporated        wire onto a belt connector as defined above, in the suitable        direction in which it is to be fastened onto the connector, such        that a portion of the belt end extends beyond the ridge member        or row of pins,    -   pressing a heat element ultrasonic hot body or other means of        heat transfer onto the belt and ridge member, and through the        action of the heat, shearing an end piece of the belt but        leaving intact the incorporated wire, thus revealing an end of        the wire,    -   through the action of heat from the heat element, fastening by        heat melting the belt to the ridge, and    -   fastening the wire end to a member adjacent to the hole of the        connector frame, such that the end is in electrical contact with        the hole and comes in electrical contact with a conducting male        snap fastener inserted in the hole.

The process further preferably comprises enclosing the connector framewith the fastened belt end and connected wire with a cover such assuitably a cover as described above.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D illustrate a belt connector according to afirst embodiment. FIG. 1A shows a prospective top view according to thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 1B shows a prospective bottom view according to the firstembodiment. FIG. 1C shows a top plan view according to the firstembodiment. FIG. 1D shows a bottom plan view according to the firstembodiment.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C illustrate a belt connector and connected beltaccording to a second embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows a prospective top view according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 2B shows a prospective bottom view according to the secondembodiment.

FIG. 2C shows a prospective top view according to the second embodiment.

As seen in the first and second embodiments of FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1Dand FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, respectively, a biometric belt connector (1)is electrically connected to an electrode belt (2). The connector (1)may comprise a molded plastic frame (3) having a front side (4) and arear side (5), a shaped circular or semi-circular hole (6) with radialflexibility to function as a female snap button fastener, fasteningmeans (7) which comprise a ridge member (12). According to the firstembodiment, the ridge member (12) may include a series of buts which areprovided transverse to the belt direction and to which the belt end canbe fastened onto with heat melting or gluing. The frame (3) may includetwo members (8, 13) adjacent to the hole (6), the two members (8, 13)forming a slot (11) extending from the hole and a second slot (15)across from the first slot (11).

The elongated members and slots provide the hole with sufficientflexibility (i.e. elasticity in the width of the hole) to function as afemale snap fastener. The member (13) also functions to engage anelectrode wire end (9) from the belt end electrically connecting thebelt with the hole and which comes in electrical contact with aconducting male snap fastener inserted in the hole. The connectorfurther comprises a belt slot (14) with teeth members or pins (17),through which slot a loop of the belt (2) can be inserted such that itis held by the teeth/pins when pulled back, to adjust the length of thebelt.

The connector further comprises a shield member (10) which may be moldedin one piece with the frame (3) and joined to the frame with foldablehinges (16) such that the shield member can be folded over to cover therear side of the hole and wire end.

What is claimed:
 1. An electrode belt and a belt connector forelectrically connecting a conductor of the electrode belt to a maleportion of a snap connector electrode connected to a biometric device,the belt connector comprising: a molded plastic frame including areceiving hole having radial flexibility, the receiving hole beingconfigured to function as a female snap button fastener for receivingand fastening the frame to a protrusion of the male portion of the snapconnector electrode, a fastener configured to fasten the frame to afirst end of the electrode belt, and an engaging member adjacent to thereceiving hole, the engaging member engaging the conductor of theelectrode belt by the conductor passing through the receiving hole whilebeing wrapped around the engaging member, such that when the maleportion of the snap connector electrode penetrates the receiving hole,the conductor is forced into physical contact with at least a lateralsurface of the male portion of the snap connector electrode.
 2. Theelectrode belt and the belt connector of claim 1, wherein the beltconnector further comprises a shield member which is arranged on a rearside of the frame to electrically shield the conductor of the electrodebelt from the rear side exterior of the belt connector.
 3. The electrodebelt and the belt connector of claim 1, wherein radial flexibility ofthe receiving hole is achieved by one or more slot extending from thehole.
 4. The electrode belt and the belt connector of claim 1, whereinthe receiving hole and one or more slot are formed by at least oneelongated member having flexibility transverse to its longitudinal axis,thus imparting flexibility to the width of the hole.
 5. The electrodebelt and the belt connector of claim 2, wherein said shield member is asheet member extending from the frame, and the sheet member isconfigured to be folded over onto the rear side of the frame to coverthe back side of the receiving hole and engaged conductor.
 6. Theelectrode belt and the belt connector of claim 1, wherein the beltconnector comprises a cover enclosing the frame, the cover eitherincludes a hole overlapping the receiving hole of the frame, or can bereadily perforated by pressing the connector onto a male fastener whichfits the receiving hole of the frame.
 7. The electrode belt and the beltconnector of claim 6, wherein the cover is selected from the groupconsisting of a folded paper, plastic or fabric sticker, a plasticenvelope and a textile envelope.
 8. The electrode belt and the beltconnector of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a slot with a rowof teeth, pins or hooks transverse to the belt direction, to engage abelt end.
 9. The electrode belt and the belt connector of claim 1,wherein the fastener comprises a ridge member or row of pins which liestransverse to the belt direction and to which a belt end can be fastenedonto with heat melting or gluing.
 10. The electrode belt and the beltconnector of claim 1, wherein the belt connector comprises an adjustmentslot with teeth, pin or hook members, wherein a loop of desired lengthof the belt can be inserted through the adjustment slot, to adjust andfix the length of the belt.
 11. The electrode belt and the beltconnector of claim 1, wherein the belt is a flexible textile belt withan electrode wire interwoven in the belt or laminated between two layersof the belt.
 12. A process for making an electrode belt with a biometricbelt connectors, the method comprising: placing an end of a flexibleelectrode belt with an incorporated wire onto a belt connector frame asdefined in claim 9, in the suitable direction in which it is to befastened onto the connector, such that a portion of the belt end extendsbeyond the ridge member or row of pins, pressing a heat element,ultrasonic hot body onto the belt and ridge member or row of pins, andthrough the action of the heat, shearing an end piece of the belt butleaving intact the incorporated wire within the end piece, thusrevealing an end of the wire, through the action of heat from the heatelement or another heat element, fastening by heat melting the belt tothe ridge, and fastening the wire end to a member adjacent to the holeof the connector frame, such that the end is in electrical contact withthe hole and comes in electrical contact with a conducting male snapfastener inserted in the hole.
 13. The process of claim 15, wherein twoheating steps are applied, a first heating step to shear an end piece ofthe belt and a second heating step to fastening the belt to theconnector frame.
 14. The process of claim 15, further comprisingenclosing the frame with a cover and fastening the cover.
 15. Theelectrode belt and the belt connector of claim 1, wherein the conductorof the electrode belt is an electrode wire.
 16. An electrode belt withattached biometric belt connector for electrically connecting theelectrode belt to a biometric device to be carried on a body of asubject, the belt connector comprising: a molded plastic frame having afront side and a rear side, the frame having a receiving hole withradial flexibility to function as a female snap button fastener forreceiving and fastening on the frame a male snap protrusion; a fastenerconfigured to fasten a belt end of the electrode belt to the frame; anda member adjacent to the hole, the member being configured to engages anelectrode wire end electrically connected to the belt such that the endis in contact with the hole and comes in electrical contact with aconducting male snap fastener inserted in the hole.
 17. The electrodebelt and belt connector of claim 16, wherein the belt connector furthercomprises a shield member arranged on the rear side of the frame, theshield member being configured to electrically shield the wire from therear side exterior of the belt connector.
 18. The electrode belt andbelt connector of claim 16, wherein radial flexibility of the receivinghole is achieved by one or more slots extending from the hole.
 19. Theelectrode belt and belt connector of claim 18, wherein the receivinghole and one or more slot are formed by at least one elongated memberhaving flexibility transverse to its longitudinal axis, thus impartingflexibility to the width of the hole.
 20. A belt connector forelectrically connecting a conductor of an electrode belt to a maleportion of a snap connector electrode connected to a biometric device,the belt connector comprising: a frame including a receiving hole havingradial flexibility, the receiving hole being configured to receive andfasten the frame to a protrusion of the male portion of the snapconnector electrode, a fastener configured to fasten the frame to afirst end of the electrode belt, and an engaging member adjacent to thereceiving hole, the engaging member engaging the conductor of theelectrode belt by the conductor passing through the receiving hole, suchthat when the male portion of the snap connector electrode penetratesthe receiving hole, the conductor is forced into physical contact withat least a lateral surface of the male portion of the snap connectorelectrode.